--- title: "Akar ARchiTecture — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/akar-architecture-pfvwus-pf~2081140921 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~2081140921.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Akar ARchiTecture" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d7c31c3e02a78441_6295-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "1027 Rochester Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52246, United States" latitude: 41.6438 longitude: -91.5669 phone: "(319) 351-4111" website: http://www.akararchitecture.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 6 followers: 134 last_updated: 2026-09-01 --- # Akar ARchiTecture Original Houzz profile: [Akar ARchiTecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/akar-architecture-pfvwus-pf~2081140921) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Iowa City, IA - **Serves:** Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, University Heights, Hills, Frytown, Oakdale - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - 1,000 Ideabook Saves AKAR Architecture Design, founded in 1997 in Iowa City, Iowa. We do houses. House should be a poetic response to people, nature, and function; It should be timeless, inspiring, and capable of capturing the spirit of its inhabitants. Our houses are always designed “green”. Common sense green, with respect for site, nature, materials and construction methods. Sustainability is not mathematical calculations or evidence of official paperwork, It is a passionate love affair with our planet and immediate built environment. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Custom Homes - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Sustainable Design - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Universal Design - Bathroom Remodeling ### Areas Served - Des Moines - Cedar Rapids - Iowa City - Coralville - North Liberty - Tiffin - University Heights - Hills - Frytown - Oakdale ### Typical Job Cost $40,000 - 10,000,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Akar ARchiTecture | | Address | 1027 Rochester Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52246, United States | | Phone | (319) 351-4111 | | Website | http://www.akararchitecture.com | | Followers on Houzz | 134 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/akararchitecture/ - Blog — http://www.akararchitecture.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Akar ARchiTecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/akar-architecture-pfvwus-pf~2081140921) - **Website:** http://www.akararchitecture.com - **Phone:** (319) 351-4111 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Best of Houzz Design Award, 2015-2016 - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service. **Affiliations** - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) - [AIA Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/aia-iowa-pfvwus-pf~1863333408) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — Melissa Roberts, March 2019** > I cannot recommend this architectural firm strongly enough. They re-did two bathrooms and a laundry room, added a powder room, and enhanced my son’s bedroom. Their interesting style, attention to detail, and professional staff make them three steps above everyone else in the Midwest, easily. Classy yet down to earth, and respectful of all to be considered. I’d put these guys up against anyone on the West Coast. Currently looking at getting the kitchen redone through them now. **★★★★★ — hoffman3128, July 2015** > Akar Architecture is lead by Sanjay Jani whom I would rate as one of this country’s top architects. Akar Architecture designs the whole house/building including the landscaping and the furnishings. And if you want, Jani is an extraordinary photographer, potter and painter who can provide the finishing touches. We live in a 5 story (including basement walkout to a secluded garden patio) house built of squares that turn 90 degrees from floor-to-floor leading to a lookout tower. At the center of the house is a winding staircase with the 4th floor library wrapped around the stairs. The house was one of Jani’s early projects while he was a partner in a prior firm. Akar projects have ranged from affordable housing to multi-million dollar houses with indoor pools, basketball courts, and walk in closets that would provide housing for a whole family! Each project uniquely reflects the dreams and needs of the particular client with customization implemented with attention to detail and craft rarely seen anymore. In addition to hiring Akar Architecture for their visionary talents, you will have entered into a life long friendship. This is a firm grounded in honesty and bubbling over in creativity. **★★★★★ — brandonaomi, July 2015** > Akar Architecture does amazing work! When we were looking to buy a home in town we noticed several stand-out houses that never seemed to go on the market. After some research we found that all the houses we loved we were all designed by the same company - Akar Architecture. > > We chose their team to design our home and have not been disappointed. The design of the home is custom from the ground up. Their work did not stop at just drawing blue prints. They helped us pick the lot, oversaw the building process and responded to every request we made for adjustments or second thoughts along the way. The design was done in 3D drafting software so every angle of the house was available for inspection before the building process ever began. > > As with a project of any scale the devil is in the details and Akar considers everything from the structure of the house down to the drawer pulls. The Akar team clearly loves architecture and design and the project never felt like work; we found ourselves looking forward to meeting with the team every week. The end result is a home of amazing quality and attention to detail that makes it shine. **★★★★★ — Dyan Smith, July 2015** > This firm is a hidden treasure! I have built homes with them twice and they exceeded my expectations both times. Sanjay really listened to what I wanted and surprised me each time by fulfilling my needs in a unique and beautiful way that I could never have imagined. > They are very talented and forward thinking. And they are fun to work with!! ## Selected projects - [Pikes Peak Cabin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pikes-peak-cabin-pj-vj~2193858) - Location: McGregor, IA - Photos: 14 - [Cabin 717, Solon, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cabin-717-solon-iowa-pj-vj~396641) - Location: Solon, IA - Photos: 12 - Description: Family builds Modern Cabin close to home. - [Rounded Rocks Cabin, Door County, Wisconsin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rounded-rocks-cabin-door-county-wisconsin-pj-vj~396648) - Location: Racine, WI - Photos: 15 - Description: Cabin and Guest House on the Shores of Lake Michigan unites family and friends. - [Maggies Pool House, Oxford, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maggies-pool-house-oxford-iowa-pj-vj~1196726) - Location: Oxford, IA - Photos: 4 - Description: New Pool House does multiple duty as exercise, office, entertainment area, guest house, and rain collector. - [Turkey Farm, Cedar Rapids, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/turkey-farm-cedar-rapids-iowa-pj-vj~396647) - Location: Cedar Rapids, IA - Photos: 14 - Description: Longtime Local family builds house for personal, business and philanthropic entertainment. - [Big Oaks Cabin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/big-oaks-cabin-pj-vj~2193915) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: 1800 SF Addition to a Lake front House. New landscaping to re-define the relationship between inside and outside - [Bison Head Residence, North Liberty, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bison-head-residence-north-liberty-iowa-pj-vj~396631) - Location: North Liberty, IA - Photos: 8 - Description: Prairie Style home celebrates love of Arts and Crafts. - [Chittick-jones Addition, Iowa City, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chittick-jones-addition-iowa-city-iowa-pj-vj~396702) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 6 - Description: Bones of Traditional turn of century home re-interpreted for New modern addition. - [Hoffman House, Iowa City, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hoffman-house-iowa-city-iowa-pj-vj~1199092) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 13 - Description: Whimsical House rotates upward from the Iowa prairie. - [Woodland Heights, Iowa City, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodland-heights-iowa-city-iowa-pj-vj~1196986) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 10 - Description: Remodel and Addition adds functionality and sunlight to existing home in the woods. - [Maggies Farm, Oxford, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maggies-farm-oxford-iowa-pj-vj~1195516) - Location: Oxford, IA - Photos: 8 - Description: Original 1880's homestead finds new life as a modernized farm retreat. - [Stumbo Kitchen, Iowa City, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stumbo-kitchen-iowa-city-iowa-pj-vj~1197181) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 8 - Description: Master Craftsman builds cabinets for his own kitchen with a little help from Akar Architects! - [Bradac Remodeling](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bradac-remodeling-pj-vj~1216937) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - [Vader Residence, Iowa City, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vader-residence-iowa-city-iowa-pj-vj~1199248) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 13 - Description: 3,500 SF, Modern Prairie Style home with landscaping and small amphitheater as integral part of the house. - [Redtail House, Cosgrove, Iowa](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/redtail-house-cosgrove-iowa-pj-vj~1199213) - Location: Cosgrove, IA - Photos: 7 - Description: Site specific, modern, energy efficient house to capture rural views. - [Olive Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/olive-remodel-pj-vj~5632083) - Location: Iowa City, IA - Photos: 14 [See all 16 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/akar-architecture-pfvwus-pf~2081140921) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/164133692/list/wish-list) — 1 idea - [Nowell House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/80268099/list/nowell-house) — 16 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/164133691/list/wish-list) — 1 idea [See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/akararchitecture) ## Community Q&A **Q: Siding- Grey Panels** *(in Photo Questions)* What type of siding is this? The grey panels? Thank you! A: Cement board **Q: Can you please tell me the manufacturer of the pool table? It's lovely** *(in Photo Questions)* A: It was bought by the owners. I do it have the details available. **Q: Like the photo of the Turkey Farm** *(in Photo Questions)* H Window provided the windows for the project. I would like have permission to use the photo in a Face Book post. Credit is given to the architect, dealer and H Window. Bill Whalen, H Window, bwhalen@hwindow.com direct: 715-209-7554, office: 715-685-2793 A: Hi Bill. Thanks for asking. We had offered H windows to buy the images for marketing when we were negotiating with the professional photographer but at that time, H windows were not interested. We have done few houses with H windows. If interested- lets talk about you buying the images or else, at this time, I cannot grant you permission to use any of our images. Thank you. **Q: What are the materials used for hardscape?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Natural stone is Anamosa. Most of the hardscape that you see is concrete- plain, exposed aggregate and integrally colored. **Q: What design for ...** *(in Photo Questions)* What period design does your ceiling installation reflect? Cheers A: Honestly, there is nor era attached to this particular detail. This ceiling is in response to need for cove lighting and acoustics. You will find trimmed ceiling references in Victorian, arts and craft, Prairie, mid century modern and even earlier architecture. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-01.*